NO. 15 VIRGINIA TECH DOMINATES NC STATE TO TAKE SERIES LEAD

Caleb Wetzel

March 14, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. — In game two of Saturday’s doubleheader, No. 15 Virginia Tech triumphantly beat NC State, 12-2, taking the 2-1 lead in the four-game series.

Coming off a tough loss in the first game of the day where the Hokies struggled to get any sort of offense going, the bats came alive in game number two.

The Hokies got to NC State’s Abby Trahan (7-1) early this time, putting up two runs in the first off a RBI double from first baseman Jayme Bailey and a single by third baseman Kelsey Bennett scoring Bailey.

Bailey and Bennett each had huge games at the plate, each finishing 2-4 with 2 RBIs and two runs.

Virginia Tech had its ace in the form of Keely Rochard (6-1) on the mound. She is projected as a Preseason 2nd Team All American Pitcher.

Regardless, NC State quickly responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning off an RBI triple from right fielder Tatyana Forbes and a sacrifice fly from catcher Sam Sack.

After scoreless second and third innings, the Hokies reclaimed the lead in the fourth off of a solo homer from Bennett. Soon after, pinch hitter Meredith Slaw stepped up and hit a two-out double down the right field line, scoring two.

Aside from the two runs in the first inning and giving up eight walks, Keely Rochard was her dominant self on the mound. She pitched a complete game, only allowing three hits and one earned run with four strikeouts.

An error in the fifth gave the Hokies another insurance run along with a sac-fly by pinch hitter Grace Chavez.

Tech closed the door in the sixth by adding six more runs off an error and hits from second baseman Addy Greene and center fielder Darby Trull.

Trull made a big impact in the game from both the plate and in the field on Saturday. The Fort Mill, S.C. native was 2-3 with two RBIs and gunned a runner out at home who was tagging from third in the third inning.

The 12-2 win is Tech’s largest margin of victory on the year, topping its 9-0 win over Clemson on Feb. 19.

Virginia Tech will conclude the four-game series with NC State on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.